Monthly Archives: November 2013

3 November 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan found Guilty on 11 Charges – Sentenced to Death

Today, Tribunal 2 issued its sixth verdict, concluding the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan alias Naeb Ali Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin. The two have been tried jointly for the same offences, and the Tribunal found both of them guilty on all eleven charges. Mueen and Ashraf have both remained outside of Bangladesh, and have been tried in absentia.

The Charges and the Verdict:

  • Charge 1: Abetting and complicity to the commission of the offence of abduction as Crime Against Humanity, or in the alternative extermination as Crime Against Humanity, or in the alternative murder as Crimes Against Humanity committed against journalist Seraj Uddin Hossain, an unarmed civilian belonging to the intellectual group. Charged under Section 3(2)(a) (g) (h) and for liability under Section 4(1) and 4(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

3 November 2013: ICT-1 Daily Summary –Motiur Rahman Nizami, Closing Statements; Zahid Hossain Khokon, Opening Statements Delayed

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Zahid Hossain Khokon      
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Motiur Rahman Nizami

Tribunal 2 delivered its judgment in the trial of Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan today.  They used the courtroom of Tribunal 1 for the pronouncement, because it is much larger than the regular ICT-2 courtroom.  Because of this,t he proceeding of Tribunal 1 did not commence until 2:00 pm today.  Continue reading →

October 2013: ICT-1 Monthly Overview of Progress of Cases

Due to funding uncertainties late in the year, our project was forced to take a hiatus in the month of October.  During this time, our trial observers were not physically present in the courtroom to observe proceedings.  Trial observation resumed in November, after additional funding was secured to continue the project.  In the interest of continuity, we have compiled two brief posts—one for ICT-1 and the other for ICT-2— highlighting major developments in each of the cases that took place during our October hiatus. As we have done with Hartal coverage of the proceedings, the following information was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

This month, the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Salauddin Qader Chowdhury
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. ATM Azharul Islam
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. Motiur Rahman Nizami
  4. Contempt Proceedings

Salauddin Qader Chowdhury

In the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Salauddin Qader Chowdhury, Tribunal 1 issued a verdict on 1 October 2013. Salauddin Qader Chowdhury was found guilty and sentenced to death for charges 3, 5, 6 and 8. He received 70 years imprisonment for  charges 2, 4, 7, 17 and 18. He was acquitted of 8 charges, and the Prosecution did not submit any evidence on the remaining 6 charges. During the pronouncement of verdict, the Accused Salauddin Qader Chowdhury alleged that the verdict had already leaked and was available on the website. Continue reading →

October 2013: ICT-2 Monthly Overview of Progress of Cases – Abdul Alim, Final Verdict; Jahir Uddin Jalal, Contempt Proceedings

Due to funding uncertainties late in the year, our project was forced to take a hiatus in the month of October.  During this time, our trial observers were not physically present in the courtroom to observe proceedings.  Trial observation resumed in November, after additional funding was secured to continue the project.  In the interest of continuity, we have compiled two brief posts—one for ICT-1 and the other for ICT-2— highlighting major developments in each of the cases that took place during our October hiatus. As we have done with Hartal coverage of the proceedings, the following information was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

This month, the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Jahir Uddin Jalal
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

Tribunal 2 made more limited progress in October than in other months due to a combination of holidays and hartals. The Court was adjourned a number of days in observance of government holidays for Durga Puja (an important Hindu festival) and Eid-ul-Azha (an important Muslim festival), followed by several country-wide hartals, called by the major opposition parties of Bangladesh. The Court convened on 9 October 2013 to deliver Judgment in the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim, and again on 10 October 2013 to hear arguments in the contempt proceedings against a Prosecution witness, Mr. Jahir Uddin Jalal. These major days of proceedings are covered separately in dedicated daily posts for each day.  Aside from the Judgment and the contempt proceedings, the following highlights the Court’s schedule in October. Continue reading →